Krav Maga is a self-defense system developed by Imi Lichtenfeld and adopted by the Israel Defense Forces. The name is Hebrew for “contact combat.” It teaches you to avoid danger where you can and to defend and counterattack at the same time when you can’t. Israel, where it was developed, is the natural place to learn it, and from summer 2027 Masa runs a six-week Krav Maga program in Tel Aviv for young Jewish adults aged 21 to 35.
What is Krav Maga?
Krav Maga is a practical self-defense system built for real situations, not for the ring. The name means “contact combat” in Hebrew. It borrows from boxing, wrestling, judo and other disciplines, but strips them back to simple, instinctive movements you can use under stress.
Like most martial arts, Krav Maga’s first lesson is to avoid a fight. If that isn’t possible, it teaches you to end the threat quickly and get to safety. Its core principles are:
- Defend and attack at the same time, rather than blocking first and responding later.
- Target vulnerable areas, because size and strength shouldn’t decide the outcome.
- Use what’s around you, from a bag to a chair, to protect yourself.
- Stay aware: watch your surroundings, know your exits and look out for more than one attacker.
- Train for stress, so the right response becomes instinct.
Is Krav Maga from Israel?
Yes. Krav Maga was developed by Imi Lichtenfeld and grew up alongside the State of Israel. Lichtenfeld was born in Budapest in 1910 and raised in Bratislava, where he was a champion boxer and wrestler. In the 1930s, he used those skills to defend his Jewish neighborhood against fascist gangs, and learned what actually works in a street fight.
He reached Mandatory Palestine in 1942, trained Haganah fighters from 1944, and in 1948 became the Israel Defense Forces’ chief instructor of physical fitness and Krav Maga. After he retired from the army in 1964, he adapted the system for civilians, and the first civilian course was held at the Wingate Institute in Netanya in 1971. Today Krav Maga is taught all over the world, but it is still most closely associated with Israel. (Sources: Imi Lichtenfeld and Krav Maga, Wikipedia.)
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1930s | Imi Lichtenfeld develops practical self-defense on the streets of Bratislava |
| 1942 | Lichtenfeld arrives in Mandatory Palestine |
| 1944 | He begins training Haganah fighters |
| 1948 | He becomes the IDF’s chief instructor of physical fitness and Krav Maga |
| 1964 | He retires from the IDF and adapts Krav Maga for civilians |
| 1971 | The first civilian Krav Maga course is held at the Wingate Institute in Netanya |
How is Krav Maga different from other martial arts?
The biggest difference is the goal. Combat sports train you to win a match under rules. Krav Maga trains you to get home safely from a situation with no rules at all.
| Krav Maga | Combat sports (boxing, jiu-jitsu, MMA) | |
|---|---|---|
| Goal | Self-defense: stop the threat and get to safety | Win a match or competition |
| Rules | Built for situations without rules | Rules, rounds and a referee |
| Techniques | Simple, instinctive moves aimed at vulnerable areas | Techniques allowed within the sport’s rules |
| Scenarios | Multiple attackers, weapons, surprise attacks | One opponent you can see |
| Awareness | Avoiding danger is part of the training | Focused on the bout itself |
That said, many Krav Maga instructors also train in combat sports, because the fitness, timing and ground skills carry over.
What does Krav Maga training involve?
Every school runs its classes a little differently, but a typical session includes:
- A conditioning warm-up to build fitness and endurance
- Strikes: punches, elbows, knees and kicks
- Defenses against grabs, chokes and common attacks
- Partner work, practicing techniques with real contact at a safe intensity
- Scenario drills that add stress, fatigue or surprise so techniques hold up under pressure
- Awareness training: reading a situation early and avoiding it
Many Israeli Krav Maga organizations grade students with colored belts based on judo ranks, while others use a patch system. Either way, the basics come quickly, and real skill builds over months and years of practice.
Is Krav Maga good for beginners?
Yes. Krav Maga was built to be practical for people of all sizes and fitness levels. You don’t need any martial arts background. You do need reasonable fitness, a willingness to sweat and comfort with physical contact during partner drills.
What are the benefits of learning Krav Maga?
- Practical self-defense skills you can use in real life
- Confidence, from knowing how to react if something goes wrong
- Fitness, because classes are intense, full-body workouts
- Mental resilience from training under pressure
- Situational awareness that helps you avoid trouble in the first place
Why train in Krav Maga in Israel?
You can find Krav Maga classes in most big cities, but training in Israel is different:
- You learn where it was born, often from instructors whose experience comes from Israeli army and security service.
- Training is part of daily life. Krav Maga is popular across Israel, from army bases to neighborhood clubs.
- You can go deeper. A few weeks of daily training gives you far more practice than a weekly class back home.
- You get Israel too: the culture, the people, the food and the country around the training.
How to train in Krav Maga in Israel
There are a few ways to do it, depending on your time and goals:
- Drop-in classes at local clubs, if you’re already visiting Israel
- Short training camps of a week or two, focused almost entirely on training
- Instructor courses for experienced practitioners who want to teach
- Immersive programs that combine daily training with living in Israel, like Masa’s six-week program below
Masa’s Krav Maga program in Tel Aviv
From summer 2027, Masa is launching Masa Go Krav Maga TLV: six weeks of daily Krav Maga training in Tel Aviv, combined with community and an unforgettable summer in Israel, for young Jewish adults from around the world.
Training with Academy 217 and Dvir Gal
The program runs in partnership with Academy 217, a martial arts academy in Tel Aviv led by founder and head coach Dvir Gal. According to his program bio, Dvir:
- served four years as a combat soldier in the IDF’s Duvdevan unit, then stayed on as its head of Krav Maga and close-quarters combat, designing the unit’s hand-to-hand curriculum
- is a certified Krav Maga instructor trained at the Wingate Institute, and an active reservist
- took third place at the Jiu-Jitsu World Championship, is a seven-time Israeli Jiu-Jitsu champion and twice won the Israeli MMA Championship
- runs women’s self-defense seminars and coaches MMA and jiu-jitsu athletes
His approach combines real combat experience with professional instruction and a strong focus on discipline, values and personal growth.
What the six weeks include
- Daily Krav Maga training in practical self-defense, fitness, mental resilience and situational awareness, in a supportive group
- A final certificate at the end of the program
- Shared apartments in Tel Aviv, two participants per room, with kitchens so you can cook for yourself
- Weekly tours to new places around Israel
- Hebrew lessons and social activities to help you settle in and make friends
- An international group of young Jewish adults from around the world, with a special focus on participants from the United States
Meals and flights aren’t included. You buy and cook your own food, and book your own flight.
Who it’s for
The program suits young Jewish adults aged 21 to 35 who want self-defense skills, fitness, community and a summer in Tel Aviv. No previous experience is needed, but you should be in generally good health, ready for active training and comfortable with physical contact during partner work. You’ll be asked for a medical form, a background check and a copy of a valid passport.
Six weeks in Tel Aviv
When you’re not training, you’re living in one of Israel’s most exciting cities. Start the day with a swim at Frishman Beach, walk the lanes of Neve Tzedek, eat your way through Carmel Market, explore the cafés and bars of Florentin, and end the evening on the Jaffa waterfront. Six weeks is long enough to feel like a local, not a tourist.
See the full program details on the Masa Go Krav Maga TLV program page.
Curious about spending a summer in Israel?
Krav Maga TLV is one of Masa’s short-term programs: six to eight weeks in Israel, built around training, volunteering, Hebrew or career skills. See all the options and find the one that fits you.
Explore short-term programsFAQs about Krav Maga in Israel
What does Krav Maga mean?
Krav Maga is Hebrew for “contact combat.” It’s the name of the self-defense system developed by Imi Lichtenfeld and used by the Israel Defense Forces.
Is Krav Maga from Israel?
Yes. Imi Lichtenfeld began developing it in 1930s Bratislava and refined it in Israel, where he trained Haganah fighters and became the IDF’s chief Krav Maga instructor in 1948. The first civilian course was held at the Wingate Institute in Netanya in 1971.
Who invented Krav Maga?
Imi Lichtenfeld (1910–1998), a champion boxer and wrestler from Bratislava who moved to Mandatory Palestine in 1942 and taught Krav Maga to the Haganah and the IDF.
Is Krav Maga good for beginners?
Yes. It was built to be practical for people of all sizes and fitness levels. You need reasonable fitness and comfort with physical contact, but no martial arts background.
How is Krav Maga different from MMA or jiu-jitsu?
MMA and jiu-jitsu are sports with rules, rounds and referees. Krav Maga is self-defense for situations without rules, including multiple attackers and weapons, and its goal is to stop the threat and get to safety.
Can I train in Krav Maga in Israel?
Yes. You can join local classes while visiting, attend a short training camp, or join an immersive program such as Masa Go Krav Maga TLV, six weeks of daily training in Tel Aviv for ages 21 to 35.
How much does Masa’s Krav Maga program cost?
Masa Go Krav Maga TLV costs $1,000 plus flights. It includes daily training, shared apartments in Tel Aviv, weekly tours, Hebrew lessons and a final certificate. Meals are not included.
Do I need Krav Maga experience to join the Masa program?
No. No previous experience is needed. You should be in generally good health, ready for active training and comfortable with physical contact during partner work.
Want to hear more about training in Israel?
Leave your details below and a Masa advisor will get back to you about the Krav Maga program and other short-term options. Rather talk now? Book a call with our team.
More articles
